Sprinkler head and mounting therefor



Dec. 12, 1950 ow 2,534,066

SPRINKLER HEAD AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Nov. 30, 1949 Patented Dec.12, 1950 SPRINKLER HEAD AND IWQUNTING THEREFGB Arthur C. liowley, DrexelElli, Pa, assignor to Globe Automatic Sprinkler Company, Philadelphia,Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania AppiieationNoyembor 3G, 19%, SerialNo. 130,263

19 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to an improved sprinkler head for automaticsprinkler systems and to an improved mounting for said head.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler headassembly, inclusive of the mounting elements, which affords a minimumprojection of the headbelow the ceiling level so as to render thefixture relatively unobtrusive.

To this end the invention contemplates provision of a sprinkler head ofrelatively small axial dimensions together with a recessed mountingwhich provides for insetting the head with respect to the ceilingsurface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler head of thetype including an adjustable closure-retaining element and a heatresponsive closure-releasing strut element wherein the said elements areassembled in r latively simple and fool-proof manner;

Still another object is to provide a sprinkler head wherein theadjustable closure-retaining element constitutes also the seat for thesprinkler head closure element.

A further object is to provide a sprinkler head of the character setforth in the preceding paragraph, wherein, after final adjustment of theclosure-retaining element into the operative position, the means foradjusting the element, which constitutes an original part of the latter,is removed so as to preclude subsequent unauthorized readjustments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler headassembly which is relatively tampenproof in that the closure-retainingand heatresponsive elements are positively looked in place and furtherin that the retaining element occupies an inaccessible position when thesprinkler head is mounted in the sprinkler system.

The invention resides further in certain structural details hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is, a vertical elevational and partial sectional view of asprinkler head construction and mounted. in accordance, with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the sprinkler head;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the elements of the sprinklerhead;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspecive of another of the functional elements ofthe head;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of one of the mounting elements, and;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of another element of the assembly, aportion of which is-cut away to more clearly illustrate the structuralform of this element.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the terminal endof a branch pipe of a sprinkler system. 2 is a portion of a ceilingstructure which, as illustrated, lies below the end of the pipe l andwhich is provided with an opening 3 within which a sprinkler head,operatively to the pipe 1 and designated generally by the referencenumeral 4, is established. The sprinkler head, as best shown in Figs. 2to 4 inclusive, comprises the usual body member 5 of tubular form, saidmember having a central bore 5 and a radial flange 1 in which is secureda U haped yoke 8, said body member and yoke constituting the frame ofthe said head. The upper cylindrical end 9 of the frame is threadedexternally for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The bore l is threadedinternally at the lower end thereof, as indicated at H, for reception ofthe lower threaded end 52 of a sleeve it which fits within the bore asshown. As hereinafter set forth, the sleeve 13 forms the discharge endor nozzle through which, under certain conditions, Water is dischargedfrom the system. Normally the lower end of this sleeve or nozzle 13 isclosed by a disc it which is held to its seat against the end of thesleeve by a heat-responsive strut assembly 55, this strut being confinedunder compression between the closure disc is and the lower end of theyoke 8. ihe strut assembly l 5 is placed under compression between theyoke and the closure disc by turning the sleeve l3 downwardly in thebore by means, for example, of a suitable wrench applied to a wrenchreceiving recess IS in the upper end of the sleeve. It will be notedthat a gasket ll of copper or other suitable material is insertedbetween the closure disc l4 and the end of the sleeve l3 and that thisgasket in the present instance is constituted by an out-turned flang atthe lower end of an inverted cup-shaped element it. This element forms ahousing for a spring it which is held under compression between the topof the cup and the inner surface or" the disc Ml. Upon release of thestrut assembly E5, the spring will function to force the closure elementit away from the lower end of the nozzle sleeve 13 with explosive actionto aid in clearing the elements from the mouth of the nozzle.

The yoke 8 is formed, as shown in 0 sheet metal, the arms 25 and 22 ofthe yoke having cylindrical upper end portions which are adapted to fitin cylindrical openings 23 and 2 in the flange l of the body member 5.As illustrated, each or" the cylindrical terminal portions is providedat its inner side with a transverse recess, and 26 respectively, whichin assembly, registers with a corresponding semi-cylindrical recess, 23'and 23 respectively, in the wall of the associated socket 23 or 26' asthe case may be. The recesses 2'? and 23 are formed by holes 3! and 32drilled in the flange "5, these holes providing for insertion of pins 33and 3 which anchor the yoke 8 in the member 5 in an obvious manner andas clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the flange l isrecessed at 35, to form wrench receiving sockets and these recessesdefine the sides of arms 36 and 3? at opposite sides respectively of theflange in which the sockets 23 and as are formed and through which theholes 3! and 32 pass from one side to the other.

The yoke 8 at its lower end is formed with a spreader 38 of conventionaldesign, the central portion of this spreader being more or less conicalin shape, indicated at 39 in Fig. 2, and having at its top a recess ilwhich forms a seating socket for the lower end of the strut assembly itas shown in Fig. 5. It will be apparent that in assembly the spreader 38is in alignment with the discharge nozzle or sleeve l3 so that waterdischarged through that member will be directed against the uppersurface of the spreader will be distributed more or less uniformly overthe area surrounding the sprinkler head.

Threaded onto the lower end of the pipe I is a bell-shaped fitting 4-3,this fitting being provided with a reduced threaded bore i l which, inassembly, receives the threaded upper end of the frame '5 of thesprinkler head, as best shown in Fig. l. The sides of the bell 53 extenddownwardly around and below the lower end of the bore l l and into theopening 3 in the ceiling structure 2 and through said opening in thepresent instances to a point slightly below the ceiling level. Thisdepending apron 55 thus embraces the upper portion of the sprinklerhead. A gasket 38 inserted between a shoulder ll on the frame 5 at thebase of the threaded stem 9 and a confronting surface of the fitting i3at the lower end of the bore l seals the joint between the sprinklerhead and the said fitting. The fitting may be threaded onto the pipe lby a suitable wrench applied either to projecting lugs 68 at the upperend of the fitting or in sockets 49 in the underside which extendupwardly into the wall of the bore t l. As previously set forth, thesprinkler head may be threaded into place in the fitting &3 by asuitable wrench applied to the recesses of the flange portion 1 of theframe 5.

When installed as described above, a substantial portion of thesprinkler head, in excess in the present instance of 50% of its axiallength, will occupy the inset recess in the ceiling formed within thebell-shaped fitting E3, and the yoke 8 being of relatively small axialdimensions will project to a minimum extent below the ceiling level.

The space between the sides of the fitting 53 and the sides of theceiling opening 3 are effectively closed by means of an annular fitting5c of the character shown in Fig. 7. This fitting coinprises an upwardlyextending cylindrical fiange having pressed-out bosses 52 near the upperedge thereof. This flange 55 fits neatly within the lower end of thebell is of the fitting 3, and the bosses 52 enter a beveled recess 53 inthe inner wall of the flange to thereby frictionally retain the fitting'59 in place. The fitting also comprises an internal fiange 5:: at thelow r en of the cylinder 5i and an outwardly extending flange 55 whichjointly form the bottom transverse surface 56 of the fitting. The outeredge of the flange 55 is turned up as indicated at 51 for engagementwith the under surface of the ceiling structure 2 as shown in Fig. l.The inner periphery of the internal flange 5 3 lies in close proximityto the wall 58 of the frame 5 of the sprinkler head and therebyeffectively conceals the upper portion of the frame which occupies theinterior of the bell 45. As shown in Fig. 2, the under surface of theframe 5 of the sprinkler head is recessed as indicated at 59 so that theupper portion of the strut Hi, the closure disc [4 and the lower end ofthe nozzle sleeve 13 are inset well above the lower surface of theceiling structure in a non-obtrusive position.

It is to be noted particularly that in the aforedescribed assembly theclosure and closureretaining elements are brought into operativerelation by adjustment of the nozzle element l3, and that this elementi3 includes as a part thereof the seat which receives the closure disc ii and against which the disc is normally forcibly retained by reactionof the strut assembly 55 with the fixed structure of the frame. By thisdevice the sprinkler head is rendered substantially tamper proof,insofar as any readjustment of the adjustable closure-retaining elementis concerned, since the sleeve I3 is entirely inaccessible for effectiveadjustment when the frame has been connected in the sprinkler system.

In order to preclude readjustment under any conditions of the sleeve i3after adjustment thereof to a final setting in the assembly operation,the sleeve may be and preferably is tinned so that after adjustment tooperative position head may be applied to sweat the solder and tothereby secure the sleeve in place. As a still further precaution, thesleeve may be made sufficiently long to afford a substantial projectionthereof beyond the upper end of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, after thesleeve has been adjusted to the operative position. After suchadjustment the projecting end of the sleeve, which contains the toolsocket it, ma be removed by suitable means, so that, preferably, theouter end of the remaining portion of the sleeve will lie flush with theend surface of the frame. Under these circumstances, the sleeve ishighly inaccessible for adjustment before as well as after attachment ofthe sprinkler head in the system.

It will be apparent that the assembly is subject to change in detailwithout departure from the principles of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sprinkler head assembly, the combination with a self-containedsprinkler head unit comprising a frame having an externally threadedtubular stem at the upper end thereof, of a hollow bell-shaped fittinghaving at its upper end means for attaching the fitting in dependingposition in the sprinkler system, and having in the interior thereof andremote from the normally open lower end of the fitting a threaded borefor reception of the threaded stem of said frame, the upper portion ofthe sprinkler head being thereby embraced within the confines of saidfitting.

2. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 1 wherein the means forattaching the fitting in the sprinkler system consists of a threadedbore for reception of a correspondingly threaded pipe end.

3. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 2 wherein the threadedbores of the said fitting are in axial alignment.

4. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 1 wherein the said frameincludes a transverse flange at the lower end of said stem, a yokedepending from said flange, and a spreader element supported by the yokein alignment with the bore of said stem, and wherein further the saidstem and flange are substantially entirely embraced within the confinesof the fitting.

5. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 4 wherein the under sideof the flange of the frame is recessed so that the lower end of the boreof said stem is inset upwardly from the lower edge of the flange.

6. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 5 wherein a closure discis provided for the lower end of the stem bore together with aheat-responsive strut the opposite ends of which are seated in pressureengagement with the confronting faces of the closure disc and of thelower end of the said yoke respectively.

'7 A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 6 wherein an annularelement is detachably mounted at the lower end of the fitting to closethe space between the peripheral surface of the frame flange and theadjoining wall of the fitting.

8. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 6 wherein the annularelement comprises an outward radial flange extending beyond the outerperiphery of the lower end of the fitting.

9. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 1 wherein the upper endof the fitting is provided with an internally threaded bore forreception of a correspondingly threaded pipe end as the means forattaching the fitting in the sprinkler system, and wherein further thelitting is provided with wrench sockets accessible through the loweropen end of the fitting for effecting said attachment.

10. A sprinkler head assembly according to claim 1 wherein the saidframe is provided with wrench sockets accessible through the lower endof the fitting.

11. In a sprinkler head, a frame comprising a tubular externallyandinternally-threaded stem, a sleeve threaded into the stem and defining adischarge passage, a closure element for the inner end of said sleeve,said frame including a strut-supporting yoke extending beyond the saidinner end of the sleeve, and a heatresponsive strut confined underpressure between the yoke and the closure element and retaining theclosure element on its seat at the end of the sleeve, said threadedsleeve being adjustable axially in the stem so as to place the strutunder pressure between the confining elements.

12. A sprinkler head according to claim 11 ineluding a cup-shaped gasketconfined in the inner end of the sleeve between the sleeve and theclosure element, and spring confined under compression within the cupand between the cup and the closure element.

13. A sprinkler head for automatic sprinkler systems, said headcomprising a frame having a tubular body portion and means for attachingone end of the said body portion in the system, a nozzle element mountedin the tubular body portion for connection with said system and meansfor adjusting the nozzle axially of said tubular portion, a closureelement seated at the end of and normally sealing the nozzle, and aheat-responsive release element confined under pressure between theclosure element and a fixed part of the frame.

14. A sprinkler head according to claim 13 wherein the said nozzleelement consists of a sleeve threaded into one end of the tubularportion of the frame and having a tool-receiving socket to provide forturning the sleeve forcibly against the said heat-responsive element.

15. A sprinkler head according to claim 14 wherein the sleeve is of suchlength that the socketed end thereof projects beyond the tubular portionof the frame when the sleeve is in closure-retaining position, therebyproviding for removal of the socketed end portion.

16. A sprinkler head according to claim 15 wherein the sleeve is securedby solder in operative position in the frame.

17. A sprinkler head according to claim 13 wherein the tubular portionof the frame is externally threaded for connection in the said system,and wherein further the said nozzle element consists of a sleevethreaded into the interior of said tubular portion.

18. A sprinkler head according to claim 17 wherein the nozzle element issubstantially confined within the said tubular portion so as to beeffectively inaccessible for tampering when the said head is connectedin the system.

19. A sprinkler head according to claim 18 wherein the nozzle element issecured in place within the stem by solder.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,076,483 Rowley Apr. 6, 19372,165,477 Griifith July 11, 1939 2,389,331 Tyden Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,332Tyden Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,333 Tyden Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,334 Tyden Nov.20, 1945

